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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



THE FAIR ELENA 



Edition limited to two hundred and ten copies, 
of which this is Number ....."...i'.„; K' '■ ''t ''-' 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/fairelenaOOgilnn 



THE FAIR ELENA 

A Legend of the Old Fort 
at St. Augustine 



BY 

J. E. OILMAN 



NEW YORK 

Desmond FitzGerald, Inc. 






Copyright, 191 i, 
By Desmond FitzGerald, Inc. 



4 ZS^ 



©CI.A3I)5030 



THE FAIR ELENA 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Oh ! summer land, upon thy shores, 
the sea 

Unstinted casts its treasures, bound- 
less, free, 

And gently woos with many a soft 
caress, 

In blandishment of murmured gentle- 
ness, 

Then rageful, foaming, towers with 
savage roar 

In angry passion, beating at thy door. 

Only to sink again, appeased with 
smiles — 

From thy fair land, and verdure- 
crowned isles. 

Now suppliant rests caressing at thy 
feet, 

[7] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

With rippling waves, in cooing kisses 
sweet, 

And decked with glowing tints and 
colors warm. 

In close embrace receives thy radiant 
form. 

Fair flower land! the realm of lotus 
dreams, 

Romance in all thy varied history 
gleams — 

And gilds each page with ventures 
strange and bold 

Of knightly search for conquest, and 
for gold, 

A gorgeous pageantry of burnished 
arms. 

Of sieges, sorties, ruthless war's 
alarms. 

Of pirates' raid, and bandit bucca- 
neer, 

And valorous deeds of mailed cav- 
alier 

[8] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Through trembling swamp or lethal 
everglade. 

By labyrinthine paths no hand has 
made, 

The stealthy Indian glides with noise- 
less tread, 

And shadows cross the page, in flam- 
ing red. 

Yet o'er the ruined cot and broken 
form 

The creeping vine has laid its mantle 
warm. 

To legendary tales the deed consigns. 

And time's effacing hand has dimmed 
the lines. 

Oh, queenly land ! Enthroned on sum- 
mer seas. 

How many nations, suitors at thy 
knees. 

Have woven fair the richly bannered 
page 

[9] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And claimed thy realm as richest 
heritage ? 

De Soto's hosts entwine with lillied 
France, 

With these combine De Leon's sad 
romance, 

And England's lion banners wave 
amain, ; 

With close companioned lion flag of 
Spain, 

Till Freedom's starry ensign rules se- 
rene, 

The standard of thy throne, thou 
mighty Queen. 

And merged in sisterhood among the 
States, 

Art guardian charged to keep these 
southern gates. 

Oh! Land mid summer seas, in em- 
eralds drest, 

To dwell within thy realm is blissful 
rest. 

[lO] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

There closely twined in warmth of 

Nature's heart, 
And flower crowned, with all her 

choicest art. 
Are fragrant groves, with white and 

gold o'erlaid. 
That laughing, bear the fruit the sun 

has made 
In likeness of himself. The golden 

globes. 
The jewelled ornaments upon thy 

robes, 
Are regal gifts thy bounty sends to 

all, 
Like benedictions shed, where'er they 

fall. 
There mango groves with tangled 

roots of trees, 
Like serpents, fold on fold, some prey 

to seize. 
Yet sheltering refuge give their 

domes within 

["] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

To myriad tribes of elves with glitter- 
ing fin, 

Or safe, when falls the night in dark- 
ness deep, 

Protects the homing birds in perfect 
sleep. 

While springing clear, from caverned 
crystal deep. 

In joyous bounty sparkling leap, 

As Horeb's rock gushed forth at 
God's command, 

And generous, poured its blessing 
o'er the land, 

Thy bosomed springs pour forth, in 
very truth. 

In manifold — the living fount of 
youth. 

And over all thy tasseled, waving 
palms 

Majestic rear their heads through 
storms and calms 

[I2] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And bend in welcome to each wander- 
ing guest 

Of thy fair land — Florida — ever 
blest. 

When trod the venturous foot amid 
the unknown lands, 

Hispania's armies proudly ruled Flo- 
ridian strands — 

And reared a fortress strong, that 
should their hold retain 

Upon the realm they'd seized for 
Philip— King of Spain. 

Menendez then commander was, in 
fief of Rome, 

To free the land of heresy, and build 
a home. 

And by his king Adelantado made su- 
preme 

Of all the Spanish main, and far be- 
yond. A dream 

[13] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Of glorious conquest — dazzling 

wealth — perchance to find 
That fount whose crystal wave in 

emerald bank enshrined 
Conferred immortal youth on him 

who did but drink, 
Unfailing source of life within its 

fabled brink. 
The standard of the cross he reared 

with fury's flame, 
And deeds of love like this he wrought 

in Christus' name 
With mailed arm, the grim old chief, 

his sword upraised, 
And slew some scores of heretics. 

"God's name be praised." 
The gentle Indian, tamed with toil- 
some task and lash. 
Oft seamed his heathen hide with 

pike-inflicted gash. 
And thus the law of love and peace 

to him was shown, 

[14] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And heaven was gained with many a 

tear and moan. 
He scuttled ships and hanged the 

crews, or prisoners sent, 
In irons bound, to Spain, for darker 

punishment 
Of churchly trial, torture-cell, auto 

da fe, 
In loving kindness burnt to grace 

some holy day. 
Through life his footprints stained 

the earth with blood; 
The Church assoiled his soul from 

crime's ensanguined flood 
For each atrocious deed — thanksgiv- 
ing mass, he said. 
A saint he lived and, blessed, died at 

last in bed — 
Don Pedro, dying, left behind the 

youthful town 
San Augustine — a star amid the 

jewelled crown 

[15] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Of Spanish colonies — yet e'er he 

passed away 
The French, revengeful, armed, had 

made a swift foray, 
And burned the town and fort — bap- 
tized the land anew 
With human sacrifice, much as the 

heathen do. 
For being Christians made it right to 

slaughter all 
Of different creed, and so they slew 

both great and small. 
'Tis true that many innocent with 

them were slain, 
But God would know His own — and 

they were out of pain; 
'Twas but the past's libation poured 

from living bowls 
To greet the future's long account of 

murdered souls. 
The soil, enriched with copious dews 

of wine-red crime, 
[i6] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

No doubt would harvest vintage great 
in coming time 

Upon the site where France had 
crushed Hispania's pride. 

King Philip planned redoubts anew, 
well fortified 

With sturdy walls and ramparts, deep 
embrasured front, 

With cannon grim and open mouthed 
to bear the brunt 

Of direful siege or fierce attack of 
warring foes; 

Portcullised gates that friends ad- 
mit, all else oppose. 

A deep encircling moat glacis, a demi- 
lune, 

To guard the port a bastioned curtain, 
all rock hewn, 

"Each line with highest art and skill," 
so read the plan, 

As drawn by Spanish engineers, after 
VaAan. 

[17] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And now a hundred years have passed 
since first begun — 

A hundred years of toil beneath the 
burning sun, 

Of sullen convict-knaves brought here 
from other lands — 

Unwilling Indian serfs, controlled by 
iron hands. 

And captured men-at-arms, in igno- 
minious place, 

As slaves, to build a fort for men of 
alien race. 

Successive throngs have come and 
worn their lives away. 

Each stone cement with blood, as rose 
the fortress gray, 

A Lazar house of woe, if all the tale 
were told. 

Of cruel deeds to man^these hun- 
dred years of old. 

Now squarely grim, from rampart's 
foot to parapet, 
[i8] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The frowning walls are reared in 

place and firmly set, 
And proudly floats the silken folds in 

lordly laze 
Of blazoned banner, on its staff, amid 

the haze 
Of smoking incense from the sacred 

vessels flung, 
While mass is clamorous, voiced with 

cannon's brazen lung. 
For murder, war and all such arts 

must hallowed be 
With holy service of the church. By 

this set free. 
The veriest scoundrel of them all was 

justified 
To cut a throat or sack a town— with 

honest pride. 
And now the years glide on, with 

sometimes calls to arms 
And sometimes peace. And safe, 

when sounded war's alarm, 

[19] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Within the sheltering fort the people 

of the town 
Awaited happier days. When war 

clouds ceased to frown 
Then came they forth, and built the 

ruined homes anew, 
And thankful were they'd lived the 

troublous period through. 

One afternoon a fleet from Spain in 
close array 

Came slowly sailing up the winding 
Dolphin's Bay 

And cast the clanking anchor near 
San Marco's fort, 

That grim and frowning stood, de- 
fender of the port. 

On board the fleet, a new commander 
came from Spain, 

A lordly Don of high degree, and in 
his train 

[20] 



% 



THE FAIR ELENA 

His fair young bride. A rose among 
Castilian flowers, 

The dew of youth scarce brushed 
from childhood's happy hours, 

A rose with opening Hps, in wonder, 
at the world. 

Before unknown. But now its mys- 
teries, wide unfurled, 

Oppress and bruise the tender petals 
of the heart — 

For she unwilling was to wed — and 
torn apart 

From all her soul held dear, in mock- 
ery of vows 

Was forced to perjure self, and rank 
and wealth espouse, 

A captive vassal, in procession 
brought to swell 

His rank and state — thus she, poor 
maid in fetters fell, 

A chain invisible, that bound with 
strangling cord 

[21] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Her future life, and borne in horror 
of her lord, 

For he was Alvarez, a grizzled, stern 
old knight. 

With features graved with scars, im- 
prints of many a fight ; 

A face that long campaigns had 
bronzed to parchment hue, 

A crafty fox, and merciless — unused 
to sue — 

A born commander, quick to plan. An 
iron will, 

A tiger's thirst for blood if roused, 
instinct to kill. 

Unbending pride in birth. The line- 
age of his race 

To Adam's time, perhaps beyond, 
could backward trace, 

Sprung fungus-like — suspicion in his 
ready mind. 

And jealous doubts of wife, his friend, 
and all mankind. 



THE FAIR ELENA 

A subtle poison, new distilled, sharp 

fanged with pain, 
Luxuriant thrived within his dark and 

scheming brain ; 
The tiger wed with lamb ! The hawk 

with dove is gyved, 
So Alvarez the fierce the fair Elena 

wived. 

The sounding trumpet's ringing note 

broke on the ear, 
Re-echoed from the wood's green 

wall, and city near, 
While banners decked the rampart's 

front, and greeting gave 
As cannon roared in noisy salvos o'er 

the wave. 
Then flecked with barges many oared 

the placid bay. 
Transporting troops and stones from 

where the galleons lay, 

[23] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And in procession marched toward 
the stern old fort. 

Don Alvarez, with sword and cross 
and all his court, 

With sounding shouts, and ringing 
cheers on every side, 

"Long live Don Alvarez, and bless- 
ings on his bride." 

Thus opened wide the gates, to wel- 
come on the strand 

Don Alvarez of Spain — new gov- 
ernor of the land. 

Loud rang the soldier's laugh as fell 

the shades of night. 
And comrades greet old friends, as 

swiftly wings its flight 
From hand to hand the well-filled 

beaker on its rounds ; 
While tinkling thrum of light guitar 

and merry sounds 

[24] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Of mandolin and Castanet the echoes 
brought 

Of gala days in old Castile, with 
pleasures fraught, 

And twice-told tales are heard of 
'scapes by field and flood, 

And wondrous feats of arms 'mid 
hecatombs of blood. 

Till evening hours were builded deep 
in later night, 

And chapel bell and tap of drum ex- 
tinguished light. 

And all was hushed save where some 
wanderer vigil kept. 

And clanking, paced his measured 
watch o'er those that slept; 

Or sounds from out the city streets, 
while passing by — 

"Ave Marie Purissima," the watch- 
man's cry. 

So closed the day, and night shone out 
with myriad stars 

[25] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Reflected in a thousand forms of 

gilded bars 
Upon the breast of tranquil waters, 

fast asleep- 
All still save gentle swell, the breath- 
ing of the deep. 

The morning came, and with it fare- 
well message said, 
For home returning bound, the snowy 

sails are spread, 
And on old ocean's bosom borne, with 

favoring breeze. 
The galleons take their lengthened 

flight across the seas, 
While from the seaward wall the fair 

Elena viewed 
The parting ships with feelings deep 

of solitude. 
They linked her home in fair Castile 

with this unknown, 

[26] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

That home so far away, and she left 
here alone. 

The link was severed then that made 
her home seem near, 

These messengers returning there 
seemed doubly dear — 

And gazing out the lookout's tower 
till every trace 

Of fading sail was merged within the 
cloudland place, 

She still with straining eyes far dis- 
tant sought to gain 

A last fond look at those so soon to 
be in Spain. 

While visions o'er the watery waste 
before her smiled, 

A gleam of fairyland, where once she 
roamed, a child— 

And trod with lightsome foot the rose- 
strewn path, to hide, 

Or blithely danced in childish glee 
some friend beside. 

[27] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And then Hernando's form in vision 
seemed to rise, 

And all unconscious why, the fair 
Elena sighs — 

Hernando, once her hero, king, her 
playmate, friend, 

The child's ideal of youthful grace. 
Pray heaven to send 

Those happy days once more, when 
she was light and free. 

Before this storm cloud wafted her 
beyond the sea. 

And then there came a shadowy sense 
of coming ill, 

A gathering cloud of dread, that 
gloomed with icy chill, 

A shivering thrill of fear, presenti- 
ment that gave 

A shock, as when one treads unknow- 
ing on his grave. 

And hastening, panic struck, adown 
the tower stair, 

[28] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

She sought, as might a wounded doe, 
its secret lair, 

And panting, reached the rude and 
narrow casemate room. 

There, shuddering, turned, as one es- 
caped some dreadful doom. 

And sobbed relief, in woman's pre- 
cious refuge — tears — 

Till tired sleep erased the sense of all 
her fears. 

Then in the visions of the night there 
floated fair 

Hernando's form. And sounded on 
the fragrant air 

His voice harmonious, tuned respon- 
sive to her heart, 

And life once more was wreathed in 
smiles, as far apart 

From waking hours as Paradise 
from dungeon cell. 

The dismal place where morn con- 
demned her still to dwell. 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And thus began that weary time when 

moments seem 
As hours — and hours in lengthening 

stretch as in a dream, 
When time expands to years. A life 

compressed apace 
Within an instant's time, within a 

breathing space. 
Each present day as like the day that 

passed before, 
As wave resembles wave, in ripples 

on the shore. 
So, slowly moving down the stagnant 

stream of days. 
With naught of charm to mark their 

flight. And naught allays 
The thirst for home, with all its bliss 

and dear delight. 
As frequent these return to mind, in 

pictured sight. 
And oft she sat and gazed at eve far 

o'er the sea, 

[30] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And watched with longing eyes the 

sea birds wheeling free, 
When through the filmy haze and 

slowly gathering night, 
In columned ranks, they whirled, and 

homeward took their flight. 
Not bound, as she, within the narrow, 

frowning walls. 
But ocean wide, to towering sky, were 

spread their halls. 
The very air within the fort its free- 
dom lost, 
In haste it sped without and fled, as 

tempest tost. 
With speedy wings, far o'er the land 

of whispering pines — 
So flee the angels fair from deep and 

dark designs. 
As victim held, and crushed within 

the hand of fate. 
Her weary spirit writhed, hopeless, 

disconsolate. 

[31] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Her soul its pinions beat against the 
iron hand 

That marred her life, and all its for- 
mer pleasures banned. 

So slowly moved the hours, each 
lengthening day grew night. 

Each night gave lingering birth to 
morn — scarce marked the flight 

Of time, with aught beyond the daily 
tread-mill round— 

The clank of arms. Old ocean's mon- 
otone of sound — 

The outlined forest dark, with prison- 
ing bars of pine, 

That like an outer wall her prison 
doors confine, 

While seaward spread the bounded 
sky, dropped space 

That fettered sight within her dreary 
prison place. 

So sat she there, with hungry heart 
and longing eyes, 

[32] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

While landward rolled the foam- 
kissed waves that met her sighs 

And vainly searched the verge of 
ocean's distant rim 

Till night brought needed rest to 
weary eyes grown dim, 

And oranged breathed the winds, in 
whispers low and sweet. 

Like visions brought her home and 
playmates at her feet. 

Thus melted day to day, in woeful dis- 
content. 

Each hour a sigh, each wakeful night 
a long lament, 

Till wayward fate or subtle chance 
the curtain drew. 

Rekindled light in life, and comfort 
gave anew. 

For rumored wars made need, and 
new recruits from Spain 

Were sent, to surely hold this outpost 
on the main. 

[33] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And with these troops Hernando 

came, unknowing, there, 
Within San Marco's frowning walls, 

the lady fair 
Abiding place had found. He knew 

that she was wed, 
And far removed from Spain. So 

chance his footsteps led. 
And brought him to this far-off realm, 

where face to face 
He met once more his childhood's 

friend, so full of grace, 
A sweet surprise to each, when at the 

journey's end 
To find upon this distant strand each 

owned a friend. 
And in her soulful, sad and longing 

eyes he read 
Unmeasured hours of loneliness, and 

all the dread 
Those hours had stored of sickening 

pain within her heart. 

[34] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

It moved his knightly soul to rise and 

rend apart 
The cankering thongs and rescue her 

from all her care. 
Her knight, her will in honor bound 

to do and dare, 
Content for any toil if haply he might 

gain 
A smile, to blossom new from out that 

look of pain. 
He cheery pranks would play and 

stratagems invent 
To charm away her grief and change 

to merriment. 
He searched the woodland's wealth 

for fairy ferns and flowers, 
He gathered store of shells, fresh 

plucked from coral bowers. 
The gems that, like a prodigal, the 

reckless sea 
Profusely cast upon the shore in joy- 
ous glee 

[35] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Each day, some treasure rare, in color 

glowing, warm, 
Some wondrous marvel found of 

strangely fashioned form 
To glad her sight and gild an hour 

with sweet surprise 
At nature's handiwork unclosed to 

curious eyes. 
Then life grew strangely sweet. Each 

day, rose colored, spread 
The languid hours new flushed with 

life and banished dread, 
Save when her lord appeared, and 

then a rising fear 
That, shuddering, filled her soul while 

Alvarez was near. 
The sun shone in her heart when he 

was far away. 
His storm-cloud face obscured, when 

near, her brightest day ; 
E'en then Hernando's voice would 

flood the lowering gloom 

[36] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

With golden sunset hues. Anew her 

life would bloom, 
And she, poor soul, ne'er had a 

thought or dream of harm, 
No transient sense to either came that 

might alarm. 
That nesting in their hearts was 

friendship grown to love, 
And full control possessed of each all 

else above — 
'Twas happiness to live, to simply 

breathe the air, 
Together be, together watch the 

world so fair, 
Pure innocence with each. As chil- 
dren playful grasp 
The roses blooming fresh, and thorns 

unwitting clasp. 
Ah, cruel fate ! to tempt poor human 

nature so. 
And hide the quicksand's deadly path 

with roseate glow. 

[37] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

That dangerous road these two so far 
had entered in, 

That shadows of eternal ni^t and 
mortal sin 

Gloomed darkly o'er their heads, pit- 
falls on either side; 

Unconscious pair — they wandered on 
without a guide. 

Fate strides with footsteps free, and 
surely overtakes 

A mortal's pace, however great the 
speed he makes. 

And happiness is but the globule's 
tinted form, 

That ruddy glows in painted color, 
rich and warm — 

As floating in the air, it, towering, up- 
ward flies, 

A radiant star. In seeming, firm as 
the eternal skies. 

One instant bright, the next 'tis gone, 
a film in air; 

[38] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

In darkness plunged the light and life, 
that promised fair. 

Meanwhile with watchful eye Alvarez 

vigil kept — 
Suspicion rankled in his brain, and 

never slept, 
But smouldered with the inward fire, 

intense of hate, 
Soul searing burned, and vengeance's 

flood alone could sate. 
Each deed or look, though light as 

thistle-down in air. 
As weighty evidence of guilt within 

his lair. 
In mind he, raging, seized and turned 

it o'er and o'er. 
In search of deep intent — a hidden 

something more 
Than on the surface seemed. To him 

a deep design 

[39] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Was borne in every glance, an influ- 
ence all malign, 

Yet crafty and dissembling well, no 
signal gave 

Of doubt, or warning voice, that 
might the victim save. 

Chivalrous in his faith, Hernando's 

utmost thought 
Was kindly deed and faithful trust to 

guard from aught 
That might a glooming shadow cast 

upon the day, 
From care to alienate and clear the 

thorny way 
From out the fair Elena's path. 

Within his eyes 
A haloed saint she was — an angel in 

disguise — 
Her casemate bower a cloistered cell — 

a sacred shrine. 

[40] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The lady's service and the King's his 
heart entwine, 

No thought of love for her had blos- 
somed in his mind; 

The new-born soul of love, within his 
soul confined, 

No signal gave of life that would his 
honor fright. 

And scatter withering frost forever- 
more to blight. 

Elena, too, the slumberous love within 
her breast 

Not manifest to her. For coyly in his 
nest 

Young love, so newly waked, was 
stranger to her eyes. 

Yet being there, by magic changed to 
Paradise 

The arid desert of her life. And she, 
content, 

Ne'er reasoned how or why, but gave 
a glad consent 

[41] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

To each day's pleasure as it came, and 

careless drew 
A honeyed joy from every changeful 

hour that grew. 

And so one eve, it chanced, the sun 

was newly set — 
They watched the colors fade, beyond 

the parapet 
Uprose the great round moon and cast 

abroad her rays 
In threads of light, to weave her web 

in human ways. 
A woof of much of mischief, love and 

sweetness blent, 
A spell of witching madness oft to 

lovers sent — 
For love's distilled potent and most 

intoxicate. 
When silver tipped the waves with 

moonbeams scintillate, 

[42] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And Cupid's arrows dipped the spark- 
ling cauldron in 
Envenomed are, and swifter fly, the 

heart to win. 
With heaving breast the greenwood 

tossed and gently sighed, 
As toyed the breeze with amorous kiss 

the swelling tide, 
Each dainty leaflet, trembling in the 

soft embrace. 
With quivering nerve expectant in its 

trysting place. 
Beneath the fortress wall a wandering 

minstrel sang, 
Commingling with the dreamy night, 

the music rang 
With tinkling mandolin, the sturdy 

cavalier 
Trolled forth this serenade the words 

and music clear : 



[43] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Warily crouches the tiger, 
Fiercely watching his prey ; 

Angrily glaring through thicket, 
Stealthily creeping his way. 

Love the fair maiden entrances, 
Sweet sings her heart to its tune. 

Dreamily wandering the pathway. 
Silvery kissed by the moon. 

Velvet the tread of the tiger. 

Soft as the silvery light ; 
Ware thee the thicket, fair maiden. 

Hasten thee homeward in flight. 

Flashes a shade o'er the pathway, 
Echoes a thunderous roar; 

Broken the tryst of the fair one. 
Maiden, thy love dream is o'er. 

The music ceased. The singer 
strolled his distant way, 

[44] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Unwitting that a warning bore his 

idle lay 
To ears that heard and eyes that saw 

their last of earth, 
For o'er them hovered death, amid the 

joy and mirth 
A ghastly night, forevermore about 

the pair. 
Enshrouding deep in gloom the sen- 
suous, moonlit air. 
Within the angle of the fort Alvarez 

stood, 
And jealous passion burned his brain 

to savage mood. 
Blue black the knotted veins upon the 

forehead rise. 
And deadly hate infuriate gleams 

within his eyes. 
As Alvarez, with stealthy steps, upon 

them creeps 
In murderous ire, as tiger, crouching 

ere he leaps — 

[45] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Then close Hernando came to fair 

Elena's side, 
With bounding pulse they gazed upon 

the silver tide. 
The wanton breeze unleased her 

wealth of ebon hair 
From out its strict confine, and float- 
ing light in air. 
With tingling touch it, veil-like, fell 

upon his face, 
And captive bound him helpless in its 

flossy grace, 
A wildering perfume, subtly, mind 

and sense unfold ; 
Then burst the passion's storm, no 

more by force controlled. 
As sweeps the flood of light when 

wakes the tropic day. 
So instant light illumines their minds 

with sudden ray. 
That heart to heart in adamantine 

chain is bound; 

[46] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

And each within the other's soul su- 
preme is crowned. 
One moment, then transformed, 

transfigured each with bHss, 
Oh! ye who drain life's wine, what 

vintage rivals this ! 
One instant thus, and then as sudden 

tropic night 
Obscures the day, so vanished from 

their lives the light 
Of happiness. Instead, a burning 

sense of shame, 
Of broken vows, of mortal sin, and 

sullied name. 
With horror overwhelmed, the inmost 

soul laid bare, 
With pallid lips that could not speak, 

the hapless pair. 
As our first parents, from their Eden, 

shuddering, turned, 
As Alvarez before them sprung. And 

savage burned 

[47] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The volumed blast of hate, in impre- 
cations rung 

The deep-toned vengeance pouring 
from his blood-stained tongue, 

While helpless, mutely stand, in im- 
potent dismay. 

These two unfortunates, as Alvarez 
barred the way. 

And naught Hernando found to offer 
in defence 

As Alvarez, Elena seized and dragged 
her thence, 

But like a statue stood in frozen 
marble fair, 

Till once again the demon came, and 
found him there. 

Then desolate, as closed his clanging 
dungeon door. 

In agony beyond his strength, upon 
the floor 

He stricken fell, and blank oblivion 
welcome gave 

[48] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The sorely beaten soul in Lethe's 
cooling wave. 

The night drew on apace, and thun- 
ders distant rolled, 

The chapel bell in ghostly chimes the 
midnight tolled. 

Before the altar knelt a figure robed 
in white, 

In agony of suppliance bent, in 
piteous plight. 

A faint and drooping girl, with out- 
stretched, pleading hands 

To Mary — Mother — true to those in 
sorrow's bands, 

And throbbed her heart in wildest 
ecstasy of pain 

As at the mercy seat she vainly sought 
to gain 

A pardon for her fault from Heaven 
so far above. 

[49] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

This overwhelming gulf— her guilty, 

new-found love, 
Till crushing with the weight it 

strength and sense o'ercame, 
And swooning, laid the sacrifice, her 

weary frame, 
A limp and helpless form upon the 

altar stair 
As Alvarez appeared. His bloodshot 

eyes insanely glare, 
He crossed the aisle in feverish haste 

and seized her there. 
With purpose fixed and firm, and then 

his steps retraced. 
And there, unseen of men, his lovely 

burden placed 
Within her couch of doom — a narrow 

iron cage — 
A rusted relic, left from some for- 
gotten age, 
That wed with chains an inner wall, 

and mouldering stood 

[50] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

An iron grave prepared, and yearn- 
ing for its food, 

A spot secluded deep, within the castle 
wall. 

Beneath the angle of the fort and 
tower tall, 

Whose ponderous stones defend the 
outer seaward sides. 

There placed this narrow cell. A solid 
wall divides 

The meagre space from out the corri- 
dor's expanse. 

A hidden nook, so formed apart that 
only chance 

Its secret station might disclose to 
prying eyes. 

At either end, with fiendish art, twin 
cages rise, 

Enclosed within the cruel bars — that 
mocking grate. 

United in this living tomb, but sep- 
arate, 

[ji] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The victims of Alvarez' wrath, scarce 

living, flung. 
Oh ! Heaven forbid the deed to these 

so fair and young. 
With desperate zeal Alvarez, with one 

attendant grim. 
The rapid trowel waved above the 

fateful brim 
Of mortared brick to close the narrow 

entrance space. 
A quicksand's gulf, it rose above a 

burial place, 
A dungeon and a tomb ; no ray of hope 

or light 
Could weakly pierce that massive wall, 

or chance of flight 
E'er reach the soul confined within 

such prison bounds; 
No chance to pitying ears attent their 

moans might sound; 
Silence unbroke — all hushed within 

that dismal cell, 

[52] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

A torture doom complete, and worthy- 
fiends of hell. 

What hope of heaven could ever dawn 
within the breast 

Of any mortal man with such a crime 
opprest ? 

Oh, God! but it were pain to die by 
flood or fire. 

Or chained by savage hands upon the 
funeral pyre, 

On battle plain amid the charge of 
rushing host. 

Or drowning, dashed by sea upon the 
rock-bound coast. 

But even then the blessed sun or star- 
lit sky 

A consolation bears to those about to 
die. 

What thought or feeling came within 
that dreary cell ? 

No sound the echo wakes — no tongue 
the terrors tell — 

[53] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The silence of the grave — naught else 

to human ken. 
Thus disappeared these two from 

sight of living men 
When closed the solid wall that barred 

from human sight 
Alvarez and his guilty aid to outer 

night 
Sped forth. They two went out — but 

Alvarez alone, 
Blood-stained, returned. Could death 

unshrived the deed atone, 
As slowly sinking down to reach its 

resting-place 
A ghastly murdered form, with pallid, 

sin-struck face, 
To vision lost in ooze, and mire, and 

watery way. 
In silence waiting dawn of resurrec- 
tion day? 
And Alvarez henceforth no time of 

placid sleep 

[54] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Can e'er his eyelids close. Then 

grizly phantoms creep, 
The shapeless things that fiercely 

stare from out the night, 
With clutching, bony hands, impal- 
pable to sight. 
Yet ever reaching forth, the fancies^ 

of the mind 
That shape themselves in hideous 

dreams and helpless bind . 
The horror-stricken wretch on whom 

they sternly leer. 
Till sleep forsakes his burning eyes 

from deadly fear. 
Now drew a curtain thick of clouds 

athwart the sky. 
And moaning sighed the breeze and 

stirred the forest nigh 
With mournful sound, as though the 

dead and buried throng 
Of those long turned to dust were 

come with ghastly tongue 

[55] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Of protest 'gainst the cruel deed. 
Each, shuddering, stands 

In terror trembling, fixed, with wav- 
ing, fleshless hands, 

That vainly seek to veil the sight from 
sylvan eyes 

Of murder foul, and dastard human 
sacrifice. 

Now louder wails the wind, and pulses 
on the shore 

The waves in measured tones, a knell 
forevermore. 

The hand of time has moved the dial 

space a span. 
An atom of the great profound— a 

life of man. 
And with the changing years Spain's 

flag no longer flies 
O'er San Augustine's fort and town. 

That jewelled prize 
A nation newly born, by peaceful art, 

has gained. 

[56] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The fort dismantled now, its warlike 

glory waned, 
A pleasure spot is grown, in which 

to dream an idle hour. 
Its battlements are tumbling down, 

and near the tower 
A broken roof that entrance gave, 

through stones displaced. 
To curious eyes that finding then the 

secret, traced. 
Disclosed a vaulted cell, and in the 

highest part. 
Scarce room to stand erect, so planned 

with fiendish art. 
Within the fortress' solid walls that 

only time 
With steady, moving hand blazons the 

hideous crime 
And casts the light of day, through 

dust and fallen stones. 
Upon the rusted cage and slowly 

crumbling bones, 

[57] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

The relics of an age, they mutely wit- 
ness bear, 

When darkening night spread deep its 
wings o'er black despair. 

Yet what is left untold though elo- 
quent these grow, 

No ear, nor eye unsealed by sleep can 
ever know. 

The tide ebbs out to sea, and springs 
the sudden night 

Upon the day so fair, and swiftly 
strangles light. 

Then come there forth uncanny creat- 
ures from the wall. 

Of kind elsewhere unknown ; strange 
birds that sight appall. 

As restless flitting round the creviced 
fortress gray 

Uneasy ghosts they seem, for crime 
condemned to stay 

And haunt from dusk to dawn the 
sin-accursed spot 

[58] 



THE FAIR ELENA 

Wherein, in times long past, their evil 
deeds were wrought ; 

Creatures of night and ghosts of evil 
deeds, they creep 

About the crumbling walls, wherein 
their victims sleep. 

With cruel eyes aglare, as though with 
hidden woe 

Of never ending inward fire the por- 
tals glow 

Till gray the night becomes, then 
filled with quickening fears. 

They seek their hiding place till night 
again appears. 

While morning scatters amaranth 
upon the deep. 

With glowing kisses wakes the blush- 
ing sea from sleep, 

And wakened love and life again re- 
sume their sway, 

Secure in happier hours, that TdIcss 
this later day. 

[59] 



DEG 



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